Anniversary Gifts by Year
From paper to platinum: ruby for the 40th, sapphire for the 45th, emerald for the 55th
Read guide 5 min
Birthstones
What's your birthstone, and can you wear it every day?
Every birthstone on the UK list, January to December. Most guides stop at what each one “means”. We tell you which ones can survive a ring worn every day, and which are better as earrings.
PK
Parth KananiOctober 2026 · 6 min read
The birthstone chart
Birthstones by month
The UK list from the National Association of Goldsmiths, with the stones the US list adds. Hardness is on the standard scale from 1 to 10, where diamond is 10.
January
Garnet
Deep red (other colours exist) · 6.5–7.5/10
Ring, with care
February
Amethyst
Purple · 7/10
Ring, with care
March
Aquamarine
Pale sea blue · 7.5–8/10
Ring, with careBloodstone
Dark green with red flecks · 6.5–7/10
Ring, with care
April
Diamond
Colourless · 10/10
Everyday ringRock crystal
Clear quartz · 7/10
Ring, with care
May
Emerald
Green · 7.5–8/10
Ring, with careChrysoprase
Apple green · 6.5–7/10
Ring, with care
June
Pearl
White, cream or grey · 2.5–4.5/10
Not for daily ringsMoonstone
Milky with a blue glow · 6–6.5/10
Not for daily rings
US list also: Alexandrite (8.5/10)
July
Ruby
Red · 9/10
Everyday ringCarnelian
Orange-red · 6.5–7/10
Ring, with care
August
Peridot
Olive to lime green · 6.5–7/10
Ring, with careSardonyx
Bands of red-brown and white · 6.5–7/10
Ring, with care
US list also: Spinel (8/10)
September
Sapphire
Blue (and many other colours) · 9/10
Everyday ringLapis lazuli
Deep blue with gold flecks · 5–5.5/10
Not for daily rings
October
Opal
Shifting rainbow colours · 5.5–6.5/10
Not for daily rings
US list also: Tourmaline (7–7.5/10)
November
Topaz
Golden yellow (often blue today) · 8/10
Ring, with careCitrine
Yellow to orange · 7/10
Ring, with care
December
Tanzanite
Violet blue · 6–7/10
Not for daily ringsTurquoise
Sky blue to green · 5–6/10
Not for daily rings
US list also: Zircon (6–7.5/10)
Illustrations, not photos. Most birthstones come in more than one shade; we show the classic colour.
Wearing it every day
Why hardness matters for a ring
A ring takes more knocks than any other jewellery: door handles, desks, the gym. Household dust contains quartz, which is a 7 on the hardness scale, so anything softer than 7 slowly loses its polish. Here's how we sort the birthstones.
Everyday ring
Tough enough for a ring worn every day.
Diamond, Alexandrite, Ruby, Spinel, Sapphire
Ring, with care
Fine in a ring, worn with some care.
Garnet, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Bloodstone, Rock crystal, Emerald, Chrysoprase, Carnelian, Peridot, Sardonyx, Tourmaline, Topaz, Citrine, Zircon
Not for daily rings
Better in earrings, pendants or occasional rings.
Pearl, Moonstone, Lapis lazuli, Opal, Tanzanite, Turquoise
Hardness isn't everything. Emerald and topaz are hard, but can crack or split if knocked the wrong way, so a setting that protects the edges of the stone helps. If you want a coloured engagement ring for everyday wear, sapphire and ruby are the safest choices; our gemstone engagement ring guide compares nine stones with real prices. Read our guide to ring metals to pick the setting.
Before you buy
Three questions to ask the jeweller
- 1
Has it been treated?
Most rubies and sapphires are heated, and most emeralds are oiled. That’s normal, but it should be disclosed, in writing.
- 2
Is it natural or lab-grown?
Lab-grown rubies, sapphires and emeralds are the same material as natural ones and cost far less. Both are fine; you should just know which you’re buying.
- 3
Is there a certificate?
For expensive coloured stones, ask for a report from an independent lab. Our certification guide explains what to look for.
More on lab reports in our certification guide.
Common Questions
What are the birthstones by month?+
On the UK list: January garnet; February amethyst; March aquamarine or bloodstone; April diamond or rock crystal; May emerald or chrysoprase; June pearl or moonstone; July ruby or carnelian; August peridot or sardonyx; September sapphire or lapis lazuli; October opal; November topaz or citrine; December tanzanite or turquoise.
Is the UK birthstone list different from the US list?+
Slightly. The UK list, from the National Association of Goldsmiths, includes rock crystal (April), chrysoprase (May), carnelian (July) and lapis lazuli (September). The US list adds alexandrite (June), spinel (August), tourmaline (October) and zircon (December). The main stone for each month is the same on both.
Which birthstones are best for an engagement ring?+
The hardest ones: diamond (April), ruby (July) and sapphire (September) are all tough enough for everyday wear. On the US list, alexandrite (June) and spinel (August) are too. Aquamarine, emerald, topaz, garnet and amethyst work with some care. Pearl, opal, turquoise, lapis lazuli and tanzanite are better kept for earrings and pendants.
Is March the only month with two birthstones?+
No. On the UK list, most months have two: March (aquamarine, bloodstone), April (diamond, rock crystal), May (emerald, chrysoprase), June (pearl, moonstone), July (ruby, carnelian), August (peridot, sardonyx), September (sapphire, lapis lazuli), November (topaz, citrine) and December (tanzanite, turquoise). Only January, February and October have one.
What is the rarest birthstone?+
It depends what you count. Tanzanite (December) is mined in only one small area of Tanzania. On the US list, fine alexandrite (June), which changes colour from green to red, is also very rare. Large, top-quality rubies and emeralds are rare too, which is why they can cost more than diamonds of the same size.
Are birthstones usually treated?+
Many are. Most rubies and sapphires are heated to improve their colour, and most emeralds are oiled to hide small cracks. These are accepted, long-standing practices, but you should be told. Ask the jeweller in writing whether a stone has been treated, especially if it’s expensive.